Here S to Your Health

HERE’S TO YOUR HEALTH -

JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING!

Publication of the Braintree School Nurses Volume 1, Issue 1 March, 2011

COLD VS. ALLERGY

April Showers bring May flowers and the pollen that causes many people to suffer from seasonal allergies also appears. Soon trees and flowers will be budding and blooming causing many to be bothered by seasonal allergy symptoms. Many times allergy symptoms can look like common cold symptoms. The chart below lists the symptoms of a common cold versus those of an allergy.

Cold vs allergy – How can you tell?

SYMPTOM ALLERGY COLD

Itchy ears, eyes, nose √

Sneezing: (violent & prolonged bouts) √ (occasional) √

Weakness, fatigue √ √

Runny nose: (watery and clear) √ (thick, white/yellow/green) √

Symptoms lasting weeks-months √

Symptoms clear up in 7-10 days √

More common in spring or fall √

More common in winter √

Parents can take some simple steps to lessen the severity of seasonal allergies in their children:

 Keep the windows closed in your home and car.

 Take allergy medications regularly to help control symptoms.

 Give your child his or her allergy medicine before symptoms develop for known seasonal allergies.

 If your child requires allergy medication or the use of an inhaler during the school day, please follow the medication policy by having a parent or designated adult deliver the medication to the school nurse in the original manufacturer’s container or with the pharmacy label for prescription medications. Medications require parental permission and a signed doctor’s order.

STREP THROAT

The school nurses frequently see children who may have strep throat or who have been diagnosed with strep throat. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can affect anyone, at any age, but is most commonly seen between the ages of 5 and 15. Symptoms include: pain with swallowing, red or enlarged tonsils, swollen neck glands, fever, stomachache and/or vomiting, and headache. One or several of these symptoms may be seen. Although most sore throats are caused by viruses, strep throat is not caused by a virus, but a bacteria, and needs to be treated with antibiotics.

If your child is diagnosed with strep throat and is started on an antibiotic, he or she must remain home from school for 24 hours after the first dose of medicine. It is important to complete the entire course of the medicine, as stopping the medication once your child feels better, can lead to a recurrence of the infection. Other tips include: throwing away and getting a new toothbrush 24 hours after starting the antibiotic and avoid sharing cups, water bottles, or utensils. In addition to the prescribed antibiotic, rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) may help relieve symptoms and make your child feel better.

If your child does have a negative rapid strep throat culture and remains ill, always follow up with your doctor. Occasionally, cultures are performed too early leading to a false negative.

HEAD LICE

Head lice often occur in school aged children. While inconvenient, head lice do not cause medical harm and can be effectively treated. Some things to know about head lice:

 Head lice are not a sign of uncleanliness! They love clean hair.  Lice do not hop, jump, or fly. They crawl quickly, and the only way they can get from one person to another is through direct contact.  Lice are not passed on pets. They need human blood to survive.  Schools are not the most common place where head lice are spread. Sleepovers are thought to be the most common way lice are passed from home to home  School wide head checks are not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The most effective screening occurs when parents frequently check their own children at home! (If help is needed to identify what you are seeing, please contact your school nurse).

What do head lice look like? Live lice are tiny black/brown insects that are similar in size to a sesame seed. Nits, which are eggs of the lice, are whitish, grey and stick to the hair shaft. They are not easily removed, like dandruff.

Signs of head lice: Frequent head scratching, particularly at the top of the head and nape of the neck, and skin irritation or red bite marks around the ears and the nape of the neck. What can you do? Provide your child with his/her own personal hair products and instruct them not to share (No sharing hats also!) Frequently check your children, and if lice are found, use a lice removal shampoo as directed, and a lice removal comb to remove all nits to prevent re-infestation. Please let the school nurse know if lice are found or if you have any questions.

For more information on head lice, check your school’s website for the head lice pamphlet.

Concussions

Young people participating in organized sports and recreational activities sustain between 1.6 million to 3.8 million concussions a year. According to the Centers for Disease Control, most of these concussions go undiagnosed.

A concussion is a type of brain injury that is caused by either a direct blow to the head or by a jolt to the head or body that causes significant shaking of the head. Some incidents that have been known to cause concussion are falls (down stairs, off a bike, skateboard or jet ski), motor vehicle accidents (whiplash), and sports activities (collisions, heading a ball in soccer, hitting the boards in hockey). People do not always lose consciousness when they have a concussion.

Signs/ Symptoms of a Concussion

Confusion Headache

Dizziness Nausea/vomiting

Loss of consciousness (not always) Behavior/personality/mood changes

Vacant stare Clumsiness

Double/blurred vision Changes in sleep patterns

Not feeling “right” Memory loss

If any of these signs or symptoms occur in conjunction with a head injury, contact your child’s doctor.

Most children who have had a concussion are able to return to their regular activities within a few weeks to a month. It is important to remember that your children should not return to PE class or sports related activities until all their symptoms have resolved and they have been cleared by a doctor.

Massachusetts recently passed a law regarding concussions in student athletes. You can go to http://sportsconcussions.org/laws-massachusetts.html for further information.

REMINDER

Bullying and Cyber-bullying Prevention program on 3/21 at BHS auditorium at 7 PM – All are welcome